The Story of a Tom Sands Signature Guitar
 

Hi folks, I've been thoroughly enjoying trawling through this forum and now am excited to present a thread of my very own...

The Story of a Tom Sands Signature Guitar
Part One: "How I met Your Luthier"

https://i.imgur.com/Y3MnKOah.jpg

I've been fortunate enough to build a very dear friendship with Tom over the past year, shortly after he returned from his apprenticeship with Ervin Somogyi.

https://i.imgur.com/6vuKnzBh.jpg

Tom and I discovered each other on Instagram (very 21st century). A fair few phone calls later, many emails, multiple recording sessions, visits to Tom's workshop, new guitar designs, performances at The Holy Grail Guitar Show in Berlin, a few too many drams of whisky, and we find ourselves here - collaborating on our first ever signature guitar. What an honour it is, and it's certainly true to say Tom's guitars are not just some of the finest I've ever played, but his Model S is the most "me" I've ever come across. I couldn't stop playing it. So I'll be sharing the story of this very special collaboration over the coming weeks. As I've spent so much time with Tom, playing his guitars and reacting to all the different options, he's in the unique position of knowing my playing and composition style inside out. The perfect partnership for a signature instrument.

https://i.imgur.com/eohJOvlh.jpg

So, what's a Model S? Well, it's a gorgeous little thing. Here's the first one Tom made, and the body shape and size my signature guitar will be based upon:

https://i.imgur.com/OtMngWXh.jpg

Mine will having a Redwood top and Black Limba back & sides, as you can see from the previous pictures above.

https://i.imgur.com/KqyHDFz.jpg

And there's us posing at the Holy Grail Guitar Show in Berlin earlier this year. (Tom Sands on the left and me, Will McNicol, on the right)

So, do stay tuned for more updates and details over the coming weeks, I'm really looking forward to sharing this build with you all, and look forward to hearing from some of you!

W

You may check out Tom's work http://www.tomsandsguitars.com

Glad to see this pop up on the feed this morning - can’t wait to hear how the guitar sounds in your hands! Tom’s guitars seem exceptionally responsive.

That's some good looking wood there - I'm looking forward to following this one. Congratulations!

That's gorgeous wood! Thanks for letting us follow along- and welcome to the forum!

beth

Thanks Dustin, Beth and SJ - much appreciated. Still getting to know the ins and outs on how best to post on the forum but I'll get there! Appreciate the support and I'm looking forward to sharing it all with you =)

Tom's model S is gorgeous, you gonna have a beautiful guitar! Can't wait to see it!

Nice to see you on here Will and congratulations on what already looks like a great instrument!

Looks like a beauty in the making. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to following along.

Hello Will, and welcome! I am embarrassed to admit I was unaware of you and your guitar skills. I've been catching some videos, and it has been a real pleasure listening. You are engaging when speaking as well, and the combination of personality and talent makes for a wonderful entertainer. The guitar looks lovely, the shape is different and distinctive, this should be enormous fun to watch come together and then listen to you play.

Thanks Howard, I'm excited for this one. Hope all's well with you! Don't suppose you're popping along to the Vancouver show next month are you?

Thank you Michael, and lovely to see you here too! Still getting to grips with the forum but getting there and excited to share the rest of this one with everyone. Marvellous seeing you at the shindig t'other day as well =)

It’s an exciting project indeed, keep us posting! Unfortunately I won’t be in Vancouver show but I’ll go to Woodstock

Hi Will - Very nice to meet you, albeit briefly, at Ian's this last weekend and delighted that you were able to play my Sands (and many others) again.

I came away from that gathering convinced about one thing: I am of the mind that Mr. Sands is currently building the best instruments of this type anywhere, and that includes those by The Man Himself. Of those that I have played, I prefer Tom's tone overall (and defintely his price!).

I would say that, wouldn't I, but that's what I think, so there. Often I go to these shindigs and come away with GAS for something or other. This time I came home so very pleased that I have the guitar I have with zero GAS for anything else (quite the opposite in fact).

A couple of people I trust (other than you) have played Tom's first model S and have raved about it. I'm not in the market for another steel-string but I will be very, very interested to try one when I am able. In the meantime, I am having one built - vicariously! - via your thread.

Cheers,
Steve

Hi Steve,

Likewise! so good to meet you briefly and play that gorgeous Sands of yours again - thank you.I certainly share your sentiments about his work. So much is subjective of course, but for me the response I get from Tom's smaller bodied instruments is precisely what fits with my style. And, hence, the Model S did not disappoint!

Hope to see you again soon, and I'm excited to share this build with you =)

W

Hi Mike, thanks for the kind words and please don't be embarrassed! Plenty guitarists around =P

Really glad you've enjoyed what you've found off mine thus far, and looking forward to sharing the rest of this build =)

W